Volume One: Youth Must Be Seized Early, How Can One Remain Young Forever Chapter One Hundred and Thirty-Nine: Purchasing Medicinal Pills

“Shopkeeper Zheng, long time no see.” Bai Qingzhou greeted him with a smile.

“Oh! If it isn’t Shopkeeper Bai!” Zheng Sizhong looked rather surprised. “What a rare visitor!”

After entering Ancient Luo Market, Bai Qingzhou went straight to the Shennong Association’s shop and found Zheng Sizhong in the rear courtyard.

“Come, come, sit down. Tell me, what brings you here?” Zheng Sizhong hurriedly ushered Bai Qingzhou to a seat.

Bai Qingzhou sat down in the chair, picked up a grape from the table, and tossed it into his mouth. Then he smiled. “If I’ve come to see you, it must be to make a deal, right?”

“That can’t be. The medicinal herbs at your place haven’t matured yet, have they? And didn’t you leave that work to your junior fellow disciple?” Zheng Sizhong asked, tilting his head in confusion.

“Of course this has nothing to do with my herbs.” Bai Qingzhou spoke mysteriously. “I have another deal in mind.”

“Oh?” Zheng Sizhong frowned. After a moment, he continued guessing. “Could it be that someone in your sect is about to establish their foundation again? Have you come to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill?”

“Haha, no, that isn’t it either! I won’t keep you guessing, Fellow Daoist Zheng. Actually, I’ve come to trade medicinal herbs with you!”

“Trade medicinal herbs?” A thought suddenly flashed through Zheng Sizhong’s mind, and he exclaimed, “Could it be that you have Dragonwhisker Grass?”

“That’s right! I happened to come across this herb in the wilderness. I thought it looked a lot like Dragonwhisker Grass, so I brought it here for you to examine.”

With that, Bai Qingzhou took a stalk of Dragonwhisker Grass from his Storage Bag and handed it to Zheng Sizhong.

Zheng Sizhong accepted it delightedly and immediately began examining it with great care.

After a while, he exclaimed in astonishment, “It really is Dragonwhisker Grass! And its quality is quite good, too. Where did you find it?”

“Hehe! On a mountain not far from Ning Water Prefecture. There didn’t seem to be very much of it, though, so I brought away every stalk I could find!” Bai Qingzhou replied slowly.

Zheng Sizhong quickly asked, “How many stalks do you have now, Fellow Daoist?”

Bai Qingzhou took all the Dragonwhisker Grass from his Storage Bag and arranged it neatly across the tabletop. With a smile, he said, “Not one more, not one less—fifty-six stalks exactly!”

Seeing so much Dragonwhisker Grass, Zheng Sizhong’s eyes widened. He was instantly ecstatic.

“Excellent, excellent! Shopkeeper Bai, I truly have to thank you for bringing us so many medicinal herbs!”

“As for the price...” Bai Qingzhou deliberately let his voice trail off.

Zheng Sizhong hurriedly said, “You can rest assured that I won’t shortchange you. As we agreed before, how about one spirit stone per stalk of Dragonwhisker Grass?”

“Of course, that’s perfectly fine!” Bai Qingzhou agreed at once.

“Excellent!”

Zheng Sizhong was exceptionally straightforward. He immediately took out the spirit stones from his Storage Bag and handed them all to Bai Qingzhou.

After receiving them, Bai Qingzhou counted the stones and discovered that there were sixty in total. He could not help asking in surprise, “Shopkeeper Zheng, why are there several extra spirit stones?”

“Haha, consider those extra stones a gift from me. Thank you for helping my sect through an urgent crisis!” Zheng Sizhong said gratefully.

“Hahaha!” Bai Qingzhou laughed heartily. Without any false modesty, he put the spirit stones away. “Then I thank you, Shopkeeper Zheng!”

With that, Bai Qingzhou rose to his feet and cupped his hands in farewell.

But Zheng Sizhong immediately called out to him.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, I am deeply grateful that you brought me Dragonwhisker Grass today. I happen to have a Foundation Establishment Pill in my shop that has not yet been sent to the auction house. Why don’t I sell it to you privately?”

“Oh? Shopkeeper Zheng, you have a Foundation Establishment Pill in reserve?” Bai Qingzhou asked in pleasant surprise.

“That’s right. Would you like it?”

At those words, Bai Qingzhou considered the matter. He had already reached the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he might break through to the Foundation Establishment realm at any moment. If he could secure a Foundation Establishment Pill now, he would be prepared for every eventuality.

“How much are you asking for the Foundation Establishment Pill?” Bai Qingzhou asked.

“I certainly won’t overcharge you. How about the market price—one hundred and thirty spirit stones?”

Bai Qingzhou was instantly delighted. He had never expected Zheng Sizhong to sell it at such a price. When he had bought a Foundation Establishment Pill at an auction in the past, he had paid a full one hundred and eighty spirit stones. This price was fifty stones lower. How could he not be thrilled?

“Then it’s a deal!” Bai Qingzhou agreed immediately.

He took out the spirit stones from his Storage Bag and sent them flying in a single stream toward Zheng Sizhong.

“Shopkeeper Zheng, see for yourself whether the amount is sufficient.”

Zheng Sizhong laughed heartily. Without counting the stones, he swept them directly into his possession.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, of course I trust you!”

“Hahahaha, Shopkeeper Zheng, you truly are generous!” Bai Qingzhou laughed and cupped his hands.

“I only ask that, should you obtain any more medicinal herbs in the future, you remember to bring them to the Divine Dragon Association for trade!” Zheng Sizhong said solemnly.

“Of course.” Bai Qingzhou cupped his hands again. “Then I won’t trouble you any longer today. I’ll take my leave.”

“Take care, Fellow Daoist.”

Bai Qingzhou left the Divine Dragon Association’s shop with the Foundation Establishment Pill in hand, his spirits high.

He had never expected that, after coming to trade medicinal herbs, he would also manage to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill at such a low price. It was truly an unexpected delight.

...

Before long, Bai Qingzhou arrived at the meat shop. From a distance, he saw Old Luo and Luo Xiaoyin bustling about inside.

“Old Luo! Xiaoyin!” Bai Qingzhou raised his hand and called out to them.

The two stopped what they were doing and hurriedly looked up. When they saw Bai Qingzhou, their eyes filled with surprise and delight.

Bai Qingzhou quickly approached the shop.

“Master, what brings you here?” Old Luo asked in pleasant surprise.

Bai Qingzhou entered the shop and smiled. “I had some free time today, so I came by to take a look. Hmm? Where’s Xiuqi? Why haven’t I seen him?”

“Immortal Master Ruan is in the rear courtyard,” Luo Xiaoyin interjected. “He said he was going to attempt a breakthrough to the seventh level of Qi Refining today!”

At that, Bai Qingzhou was instantly overjoyed. He had not expected Ruan Xiuqi to have already reached the threshold of the seventh level of Qi Refining.

He headed toward the rear courtyard. “I’ll go take a look. You two carry on with your work!”

“All right!”

Bai Qingzhou lifted the curtain blocking the rear courtyard and stepped inside. There, he saw Ruan Xiuqi seated in the pavilion, meditating with his eyes closed.

After years of cultivation and meditation, the chubby boy of the past had long since vanished. In his place was a sturdy body and a resolute face, giving him a unique charm.

Seeing that Ruan Xiuqi was attempting to break through his bottleneck, Bai Qingzhou did not dare disturb him. He immediately stilled his steps and stood silently by the entrance, protecting him.

Time passed slowly. In the blink of an eye, an hour had gone by.

At last, Ruan Xiuqi opened his eyes. The spiritual energy within him had condensed into an exceedingly powerful force, clearly indicating that he had successfully advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Bai Qingzhou standing at the doorway. He was startled.

“Uh... Big Brother Bai, what brings you here?”

“Congratulations, Xiuqi! You’ve finally entered the late stage of Qi Refining!” Bai Qingzhou congratulated him cheerfully.

“Hahaha!” Ruan Xiuqi laughed heartily, his face brimming with confidence. “The seventh level of Qi Refining was bound to be no problem!”

Now that he had obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill and Ruan Xiuqi had advanced to the late stage of Qi Refining, Bai Qingzhou was overwhelmed with joy. He laughed aloud.

“Hahaha, not bad! Today is a fine day. How about we go out and have a few drinks to celebrate?”

“That’s exactly what I was about to suggest!” Ruan Xiuqi agreed at once.

The two then left the small courtyard and found Old Luo and Xiaoyin still busy at work. After helping them tidy everything up, the group closed the shop early.

The four of them then walked together toward a tavern.

(End of chapter)

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